'He certainly shouldn't have been carrying a gun': Trump clashes with NRA over Alex Pretti’s concealed carry
Under Minnesota law, citizens can legally carry a concealed handgun in public, if they have a permit.
Donald Trump has clashed with the National Rifle Association (NRA) after suggesting the victim of a fatal shooting by federal agents should not have taken a gun to a protest.
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Alex Pretti was shot and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) officer in Minnesota on Saturday.
Mr Pretti's gun was confiscated by an officer during a struggle, but another fired at Mr Pretti while he was unarmed on the ground, video shared online appears to show.
On Tuesday, as he greeted diners at an Iowa restaurant, Mr Trump weighed in on the incident with comments that were likely to exacerbate frustration among some of his backers who are also strong Second Amendment proponents.
"He certainly shouldn't have been carrying a gun," Mr Trump said of Mr Pretti.
He called it a "very, very unfortunate incident" but said: "I don't like that he had a gun. I don't like that he had two fully loaded magazines. That's a lot of bad stuff."
Police have said Mr Pretti was a legal gun owner. Under Minnesota law, citizens can legally carry a concealed handgun in public, if they have a permit.
Read more: Trump vows to 'de-escalate' after fatal ICE shootings in Minnesota spark national outrage
Earlier in the day, as Mr Trump left the White House to head to Iowa, he was repeatedly questioned by reporters about Mr Pretti's killing.
Mr Trump disputed language used by his own deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, who on social media described Mr Pretti as an "assassin" who "tried to murder federal agents". Vice President JD Vance shared the post.
Mr Trump, when asked Tuesday if he believed Mr Pretti was an assassin, said: "No."
When asked if he thought Mr Pretti's killing was justified, Mr Trump called it "a very sad situation" and said a "big investigation" was under way.
"I'm going to be watching over it, and I want a very honourable and honest investigation. I have to see it myself," he said.
He also said Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who was quick to cast Mr Pretti as a violent instigator, would not be resigning.
The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be.
— NRA (@NRA) January 28, 2026
The NRA reiterated their support for the Second Amendment, writing on X: "The NRA unequivocally believes that all law-abiding citizens have a right to keep and bear arms anywhere they have a legal right to be."
The pro-gun group also labelled a suggestion by a federal prosecutor that people who carry guns risk being lawfully shot by officers as "dangerous and wrong".
"Responsible public voices should be awaiting a full investigation, not making generalisations and demonising law-abiding citizens," the NRA said in a statement.
The NRA was reacting to comments from First Assistant US Attorney for the Central District of California on Saturday night.
Bill Essayli wrote on social media: "If you approach law enforcement with a gun, there is a high likelihood they will be legally justified in shooting you. Don't do it!"
In another social-media post, the NRA said: "As there is with any officer-involved shooting, there will be a robust and comprehensive investigation that takes place to determine if the use of force was justified.
"As we await these facts and gain a clearer understanding, we urge the political voices to lower the temperature to ensure their constituents and law enforcement officers stay safe."